Israeli Forces Kill 2 Palestinians in West Bank

An Israeli soldier stands guard the near the scene of a car that exploded in the West Bank settlement of Karme Tsur, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
An Israeli soldier stands guard the near the scene of a car that exploded in the West Bank settlement of Karme Tsur, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
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Israeli Forces Kill 2 Palestinians in West Bank

An Israeli soldier stands guard the near the scene of a car that exploded in the West Bank settlement of Karme Tsur, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
An Israeli soldier stands guard the near the scene of a car that exploded in the West Bank settlement of Karme Tsur, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Israel's military on Saturday said its forces killed two people in separate incidents in the occupied West Bank, after one infiltrated an Israeli settlement and another shot at soldiers after his car exploded.

Israel's ambulance service said two men were wounded by gunshots in the incidents. It did not identify them.

"Terrorists attempted to run over a security guard at the entrance to the community Karmei Tzur a short while ago and infiltrated the community," the military said, referring to an Israeli settlement.
Soldiers who arrived at the scene killed one assailant who had opened fire at them and were searching for others, it said.

In another incident, a car caught fire and exploded in a gas station, the military said.

It said forces sent to the scene shot and eliminated the person who exited the vehicle “and tried to attack them."

The military said it was too soon to know if the incidents were related.

Hamas issued a statement on Saturday praising what it called a "double heroic operation" in the West Bank, saying it "is a clear message that resistance will remain striking, prolonged and sustained as long as the brutal occupation's aggression and targeting of our people and land continue.”

The group, however, did not claim direct responsibility for the attacks.

Violence in the West Bank, already on the rise before the war in Gaza, has escalated recently, with stepped-up Israeli military raids and settler and Palestinian street violence.



EU Calls on Libyan Leaders to Deescalate Tensions

Libya's central bank governor Sadiq al-Kabir (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Libya's central bank governor Sadiq al-Kabir (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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EU Calls on Libyan Leaders to Deescalate Tensions

Libya's central bank governor Sadiq al-Kabir (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Libya's central bank governor Sadiq al-Kabir (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The European Union Delegation have urged all Libyan leaders to put national interests first, deescalate tensions, refrain from the use or threat of force, and lift the force majeure on all oil fields.

This came shortly after Libya's central bank governor Sadiq al-Kabir said he and other senior bank staff had been forced to leave the country to “protect our lives” from potential attacks, according to a report by the Financial Times.

On Friday, the EU Delegation and the diplomatic missions of EU Member States in Libya said they are gravely concerned about the deterioration of the situation in Libya amidst growing political fragmentation in the absence of unified institutions.

In a statement, the delegation urged all parties to engage constructively in good faith and seek a negotiated solution.

“We reaffirm our readiness to actively support this process, including to restore Libya’s path to the formation of a unified government and to national elections and call on all Libyan leaders to put national interests first, deescalate tensions, refrain from the use or threat of force, and lift the force majeure on all oil fields,” it added.

The delegation also warned that the intimidation of High Council of State members and CBL employees, the closure of oil fields, and disruptions in banking services are exacerbating an already fragile situation, threatening the economic lifelines of the Libyan people.

It then expressed support to UNSMIL’s call for urgent steps to deescalate and welcome the initiative to convene an emergency meeting of all relevant stakeholders to peacefully resolve the Central Bank crisis.

On Thursday, the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) administration, which is loyal to the Tripoli authorities, said it has regained control of all banking systems, after it was disrupted by the previous administration of the bank.

Tensions in Tripoli have forced al-Kabir to flee the country.

Al-Kabir told the Financial Times via telephone that “militias are threatening and terrifying bank staff and are sometimes abducting their children and relatives to force them to go to work,” referring to the kidnapping of director of his office, Rasem Najjar, and three employees.

The crisis over the control of the Central Bank of Libya renewed when the Tripoli-based Presidential Council moved this month to oust al-Kabir and replace him with a rival board.

The decision came against the wishes of Parliament which came to support al-Kabir by deciding to shut oilfields, suspend oil production and exports—the main source of revenue of the country.

However, al-Kabir chose to leave the country.

He said attempts by interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah to replace him were illegal, and contravened UN negotiated accords on control of the central bank.